DIY Computer Kit, Kano, Raises $28M to Fuel Big Retail Push

Nov 7, 2017

KANO, a London-based creator of DIY computer kits that teach kids to code, has raised $28 million in a Series B round led by the Thames Trust and Breyer Capital. These investors are joined by Index Ventures, Barclays, the Stanford Engineering Venture Fund, LocalGlobe, John Makinson, Collaborative Fund, Triple Point Capital and Salesforce founder Marc Benioff. The company has now raised $44.5 million in venture funding.

Founded in 2013, Kano offers kits that teach children how to work with computers, motion sensors and LED lights. The company includes lessons that introduce kids to basic programming in languages such as Python and Javascript. The funding will help fuel Kano’s big retail push to sell its products in stories like Best Buy, Target and Walmart.

The race is on among companies looking to capture the DIY coding toy market. Last week Wonder Workshop, which offers programmable robots, raised $41 million. Piper, which also sells a DIY computing kit, raised $7.6 million back in September.

DIY Computer Kit, Kano, Raises $28M to Fuel Big Retail Push

Nov 7, 2017

KANO, a London-based creator of DIY computer kits that teach kids to code, has raised $28 million in a Series B round led by the Thames Trust and Breyer Capital. These investors are joined by Index Ventures, Barclays, the Stanford Engineering Venture Fund, LocalGlobe, John Makinson, Collaborative Fund, Triple Point Capital and Salesforce founder Marc Benioff. The company has now raised $44.5 million in venture funding.

Founded in 2013, Kano offers kits that teach children how to work with computers, motion sensors and LED lights. The company includes lessons that introduce kids to basic programming in languages such as Python and Javascript. The funding will help fuel Kano’s big retail push to sell its products in stories like Best Buy, Target and Walmart.

The race is on among companies looking to capture the DIY coding toy market. Last week Wonder Workshop, which offers programmable robots, raised $41 million. Piper, which also sells a DIY computing kit, raised $7.6 million back in September.